Think granite! If you’ve any interest in geology, perhaps you are imagining Ulster’s Mourne Mountains, Switzerland’s Gotthard Massif or the stone heart of California’s Sierra Nevada. Or maybe the fabled coast of Brittany’s Côtes-d’Armor department, just a short ferry trip across ‘La Manche’. It’s close; and, if you’ve never been, well worth visiting.

The spectacular Côte de Granit Rose

From name to reality, the spectacular Côte de Granit Rose – from Plestin-les-Grèves to Louannec – is about the pink gorgeousness of every cliff and boulder. Plus all the other good things, including those delicious galettes and dry white wines, associated with Brittany.

Whether you stay local, base yourself here for wider exploration, or drop in after a longer trip, the Côte is visually stunning and always inspiring. In Port de Ploumanac’h, we recommend the lovely Hotel des Rochers overlooking the harbour’s lines of moored yachts. It’s hard to imagine a more relaxing few days than exploring the village and its nearby coastline.

Many granites include hints of red, but few display the intensity of this littoral as it takes geological ‘vie en rose’ to the breathtaking max. To fully savour the landscape – it’s Hercynian granite with a high percentage of pink-giving microcline feldspar – follow the romantic Sentier des Douaniers (‘the path of the customs officers’) around to Perros Guirec – once home to author Joseph Conrad.

There and back, the walk past Phare de Men Ruz lighthouse – built of local granite; the name means ‘red stone’ in Breton – is about 12km. At Perros Guirec, overlooking Trestrau beach, reward yourself with takeaway baguettes from Au P’tit Creux; cheap, filling, quintessentially Breton and, after the bracing clifftop air, delicious. Just watch out for marauding ‘mouettes’!

Captivating rock sculptures

Stroll the sands and watch the windsurfers for a while. Then return the same way for new perspectives as the setting sun and its long shadows accentuate the salmon-pink rock.

It’s not just the colour either; the shapes sculpted by the ocean and weather are captivating. I challenge you not to imagine all kinds of human and animal forms in the rock – and that’s before downing something delicious with supper.

If you become ‘pinked out’ and want to explore further afield, many Breton attractions are within a couple of hours’ drive. Go south to Quiberon and Carnac’s stones, east to St. Malo and Mont-Saint-Michel, or head for Pointe de Corsen, the French mainland’s western-most extremity.

Whatever you choose, it’s not too late to plan your Breton ‘life in pink’ for this summer!